Columbian Emerald Cabochon
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Emerald Detail
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Frequently
Called |
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Emerald |
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Also Known
as |
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Natural Beryl
Emerald |
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Shape |
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Hexagonal |
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Color |
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Rich Bluish Green |
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Clarity |
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Type III |
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Saturation |
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Strong |
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Finish
& Polish |
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Very good |
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Other
Features |
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Occasionally
Found to Star |
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Refracted
Index |
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1.577 - 1.583 |
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Origin |
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Many |
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Hardness |
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7.5 - 8.0 |
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Treatment |
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Colorless Oil most
common |
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Columbian Emerald
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Emerald
Emeralds are fascinating gemstones. They have the most beautiful,
most intense and most radiant green that can possibly be imagined:
Emerald green. Inclusions are tolerated. In top quality, fine
emeralds are even more valuable than diamonds.
Emeralds have been held in high esteem since ancient 
times. For that
reason, some of the most famous emeralds are to be seen in museums
and collections. The New York Museum of Natural History, for
example, has an exhibit in which a cup made of pure emerald which
belonged to the Emperor Jehangir is shown next to the 'Patricia',
one of the largest Colombian emerald crystals, which weighs 632
carats. The collection of the Bank of Bogota includes five valuable
emerald crystals with weights of between 220 and 1796 carats,
Emerald
Color
The
lively luminosity of its color makes the emerald a unique gemstone.
However, really good quality is fairly rare, with inclusions often
marring the evenness of the color. Fine inclusions, however, do
not by any means diminish the high regard in which it is held. Even with inclusions, an emerald in a deep, lively
green still has a much higher value than an almost flawless emerald
whose color is paler.
The Beautiful
Garden:
In
contrast to other beryl gemstones, emerald is typically heavily
flawed with cracks and inclusions of fluid and minerals. These
inclusions are called "jardin" (or garden) as they
typically resemble leaves and branches. These characteristics are
not looked upon as negative aspects for emerald as they would be for
other gemstones. Indeed, these inclusions are considered part of the
character of the stone and are used to assure
the purchaser that the
stone is genuine. Because emeralds are so rare without inclusions
some inclusions are expected and do not detract from the value of
the stone as much as with other gemstones. Most emeralds on the
market today have been treated with various types of oil or resin to
improve their appearance.
The world of fine
Emeralds
Colombia continues to be at the top of the list in terms of the
countries in which fine emeralds are found. It has about 150 known
deposits, though not all of these are currently being exploited. The
best known names are Muzo And Chivor.
Choosing a Emerald
When choosing an emerald, the most important value factor to
consider is color. The more vivid and saturated the green, the more
valuable the emerald ( Typical of the Muzo and Chivor Mines of
Columbia). There are also attractive bright stones with a lighter
green color that often make a spectacular piece of jewelry.
